The
profession of interior design is defined by numerous
reputable organizations as documented below:
●
American Society of Interior Designers
ASID
www.asid.org
● International Interior Design Association
IIDA
www.iida.org
● National Council for Interior Design
Qualifications
NCIDQ
www.ncidq.org
● Council for Interior Design Accreditation
CIDA
www.accredit-id.org
All
professions share a unified definition as stated on
their websites.
Interior Design is identified and defined as a
profession on a Federal level, however, not in the
State of New Hampshire where anyone, regardless of
education, experience or passage of NCIDQ, a
national exam, can call themselves an interior
designer and practice the profession of interior
design.
Please refer
to
www.ncidq.org/pdf/markofapro.pdf.
NHIDC
seeks to clarify those with the criteria of
education, experience and examination by enacting a
bill for certification which clearly defines those
with these criteria to benefit the public.
The
US Census Bureau posts this governmental description
of interior design services.
541410 Interior Design Services “This
industry comprises establishments primarily engaged
in planning, designing, and administering projects
in interior spaces to meet the physical and
aesthetic needs of people using them, taking into
consideration building codes, health and safety
regulations, traffic patterns and floor planning,
mechanical and electrical needs, and interior
fittings and furniture. Interior designers and
interior design consultants work in areas such as
hospitality design, health care design,
institutional design, commercial and corporate
design, and residential design. This industry also
includes interior decorating consultants engaged
exclusively in providing aesthetic services
associated with interior spaces.” The United States
Office of Personnel Management Interior Design
Series, GS-1008 TS-103 May 1991 Information
retrieved June 4, 2006 from the US Census Bureau.
http://www.census.gov/epcd/ec97/def/541410.htm
The
U.S. Office of Personnel Management posts this
“position classification flysheet” for interior
design.
Position Classification
Flysheet for Interior Design Series
GS-1008 SERIES DEFINITION
Interior Design Series, GS-1008 TS-103 May 1991
SERIES DEFINITION
This series includes positions the duties of which
are to perform, supervise, or manage work related to
the design of interior environments in order to
promote employee productivity, health, and welfare,
and/or the health and welfare of the public. Typical
duties include investigating, identifying, and
documenting client needs; analyzing needs, proposing
options and, working with the client, developing
specific solutions; developing design documents,
including contract working drawings and
specifications; and, as appropriate, managing design
projects performed in-house or by contract. The work
requires applying knowledge from a variety of such
fields as (a) interior construction (building
systems and components, building codes, equipment,
materials, and furnishings, negotiations, working
drawings and specification, codes and standards);
(b) contracting (cost estimates, bid proposals,
negotiations, contract awards, site visits during
construction, pre- and post-occupancy evaluations);
(c) facility operation (maintenance requirements,
traffic patterns, security and fire protection); (d)
aesthetics (sense of scale, effects of environmental
components (color, texture, space, etc.) on mood,
alertness, etc.); and, as appropriate; (f)
management (design project and resource
coordination). US Office of Personnel Management
Information retrieved on June 7, 2006 from
http://www.opm.gov/fedclass/gs1008.pdf.
Legislative Terms and Descriptions below were
taken from NH Economic and Labor Market Information
Bureau.
Licensing
Licensing is generally used to describe the most
restrictive method of regulation, requiring any
person earning a living in the occupation to obtain
permission from a government agency designated by
law. To qualify for a license, applicants usually
must meet requirements including completing an
approved educational program, attaining a specific
amount of work-related experience, passing an
examination, reaching a specific age, providing
proof of professional character, and paying a fee.
Certification
Generally, this term relates to use of title by a
professional. In some cases, anyone may engage in
the occupation but may not claim to be certified
without meeting requirements and obtaining
permission from a government agency. In other cases,
certification is a title granted by a professional
association indicating that certain requirements
have been met, but there may be no legal requirement
for certification. Applicants for certification
usually must meet educational or experience
requirements, pass an examination, and pay a fee.
Registration
Registration is usually the least restrictive type
of regulation. In some cases, registration is
voluntary. Applicants engaging in the occupation may
be required to submit an application for placement
on an official roster maintained by the regulatory
agency. Requirements for registration are usually
less than those required for certification or
licensure, and may include evidence of residence,
character references or similar documentation, and
payment of a fee.
